crone

/krəʊn/ (bre, ipa) · /krəʊn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrōn/ (ame, mw)

crone — noun

  • cronesingular
  • cronesplural

1. A rude and strongly insulting word for an elderly woman who is seen as nasty, bi

1.名詞C1
釋義

A rude and strongly insulting word for an elderly woman who is seen as nasty, bitter, or unpleasant to look at.

例句

The boys whispered that the angry crone next door chased cats with a broom.

insulting use: angry crone next door

Kabir regretted calling the ticket inspector a crone after the train argument.

pattern: call someone a crone

同義詞
  • hag

    usually even harsher and often stresses ugliness as well as cruelty

  • shrew

    focuses more on a sharp, bad temper and does not require old age

用法筆記

This sense is insulting and often ageist. Use it mainly when reporting rude speech or describing a stock villain in fiction, not as a neutral label for an older woman.

常見錯誤

❌My crone lives with us now.
✅My grandmother lives with us now.
💡'Crone' is insulting, so it is not a respectful word for a family member or any ordinary older woman.

2. In folktales, an elderly woman who uses magic or seems to possess hidden superna

2.名詞C1
釋義

In folktales, an elderly woman who uses magic or seems to possess hidden supernatural knowledge.

例句

In the forest tale, a crone sold Selim a candle in exchange for one wish.

folktale setting: crone + sold [person] a magical object

Jiwoo met a mountain crone who knew the names of every herb.

relative clause: crone + who knew hidden knowledge

同義詞
  • witch

    broader everyday word for a woman with magic powers; it does not always imply old age

  • sorceress

    more literary and grander in tone, often used for a powerful magic user

  • wise woman

    more positive and emphasizes knowledge or healing rather than menace

用法筆記

This sense belongs mainly to folklore, fantasy, and literary retellings. Unlike sense 1, it can sound descriptive rather than purely insulting, and it may suggest mystery, wisdom, or danger.

常見錯誤

❌The crone taught science at our school.
✅The old woman taught science at our school.
💡Outside folklore or literary writing, 'crone' usually sounds insulting or stylized instead of neutral.